H V Sathe

Rao Bahadur Hari Vinayak Sathe was a senior government revenue officer. He came to Baba around 1904, broken by grief after the death of his wife, and found in Shirdi the peace he could not find anywhere else. He became one of the first educated, well-placed devotees to visit Baba regularly.

At that time there was nowhere for visitors to stay in Shirdi. Around 1908 Sathe built the Sathe Wada near the Gurusthan, the neem tree where Baba was first seen. It was the first rest house for devotees, and for years pilgrims stayed and gathered there. Daily readings of the Dnyaneshwari and Eknathi Bhagavat were held in its hall.

Sathe also brought to Baba his cook Megha, a simple Brahmin from Gujarat who worshipped only Shiva. Through Baba's grace Megha came to see Baba as Shiva himself and became one of his most loving devotees. In this way Sathe's devotion opened the door to Shirdi for many others.